ConocoPhillips, an American oil company, has recently suspended its 2014 plans to drill in the Arctic, but the only way to keep this environment protected is to ban drilling in its region. Attempted drilling in the Arctic Ocean has a long history of devastation, and many researchers today believe wildlife is still impacted by oil spills that occurred more than 20 years ago. Arctic drilling is dangerous, and irresponsible companies like ConocoPhillips are least eligible to carry it out. Sign this petition and urge President Barack Obama to put a permanent stop to ConocoPhillips’ potential plans to drill in the Arctic.

Arctic waters are threatened by drilling expressly because oil persists in its environment longer than anywhere else. Chemicals become easily trapped under sea ice and evaporate at slower temperatures, yet no effective technology has been created to eliminate the toxic contamination. When left for even a short while, oil can harm and kill every animal it contacts.

Despite these dangers, oil companies will do everything in their power to increase their funds at the expense of the environment, granted they can sneak past safety regulations. Previous joint investigations of ConocoPhillips China found the company had “seriously violated operating rules” after an oil spill occurred in the region, additionally failing to stop the source of the spill once it was identified. This company has proven they have little regard for the environment and cannot be trusted to invade and potentially harm the precious wildlife and resources of the Arctic.

ConocoPhillips attributed the halt of their plans to “uncertainties of evolving regulatory requirements and operational permitting standards,” but they will certainly resume their plans if they can convince the Interior Department of their “risk-free” offshore procedures in time. Yet the past speaks for itself, and basic standards like undisruptive drilling are ones this company will never meet. Because they have halted their operation, now is the perfect time to end ConocoPhillips Arctic drilling plans for good. It is simply too dangerous to risk the safety of Arctic inhabitants.

Urge President Barack Obama to take action now and use his influence to permanently halt offshore Arctic drilling now and in the future, especially drilling by companies like ConocoPhillips that have proven to be hazardous to the environment. Because this process cannot be done safely by this company in the Arctic, it should therefore not be done at all.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Barack Obama,

Oil spills as a result of risky drilling methods are a serious threat to the environment. Recently, ConocoPhillips has halted its plans to drill in the Arctic Ocean in 2014, and now is the perfect opportunity to ban them from drilling in this region for good. This company has a history of reckless behavior, and they have failed to abide by operating rules that protect wildlife. As a result, they have wreaked havoc on China’s ecosystem by causing massive oil spills and failing to stop the sources of the hazard months after the incident occurred.

The Arctic is a precious environment, and it cannot withstand the deadly threats of an oil spill. Oil easily permeates ice caps and remains in the waters for years. Animals inhale toxins and become caked with sticky chemicals that slowly destroy their bodies. Scientists have not yet developed technology to combat the effects of this prevalent tragedy, and it is far too risky to allow a company with a history of destroying wildlife to enter the Arctic environment and gamble with its ecosystem for profit. I urge you to permanently ban ConocoPhillips from conducting offshore drilling in the Arctic Ocean.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

PhotoCredit: pacificenvironment.org

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